Search continues for two missing boys

The search for two missing Tampa boys taken by their father on Wednesday continues today on Florida waterways from Key West to Pensacola.

As Florida Fish and Wildlife officers are searching offshore along the Gulf of Mexico, the Amber Alert issued for the boys has been modified to include only states that border along the Gulf of Mexico.

An Amber Alert was issued for 4-year-old Cole Hakken and 2-year-old Chase Hakken after authorities say their father, 35-year-old Joshua Michael Hakken, entered his mother-in-law’s house in north Tampa, tied her up and left with the children Wednesday afternoon. The children’s mother, 34-year-old Sharyn Patricia Hakken, is believed to be with them.

Here is your latest up to the minute information on the ongoing search for the two missing boys….

The boys and their parents are still at large and their whereabouts are unknown. Any media reports that “the children have been found” and anyone other than the parents are involved is inaccurate.

All law enforcement personnel are continuing their search efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, surrounding waterways and on land, nothing has changed.

The ONLY thing that has changed is a slight modification of the Amber Alerts. The Amber Alerts now include only states that border along the Gulf of Mexico.

We continue to have full assistance and mutual cooperation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Coast Guard, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and many other law enforcement agencies from around the country.

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